John Marshall and International Law: Statesman and Chief Justice

John Marshall and International Law: Statesman and Chief Justice

Synopsis

Rudko examines the eight years prior to John Marshall's appointment to the Supreme Court, and argues that the knowledge he brought to his 80 Court opinions involving international law was obtained in these years. Four episodes are carefully detailed, covering Marshall's argument before the Supreme Court as debtors' counsel in the case against pre-Revolutionary British creditors; his role in representing the United States in a critical diplomatic mission to France; his time spent in the House of Representatives; and his direction of U.S. foreign policy as Secretary of State.